Compare the best internet service providers in Ely. Find fiber, cable, and wireless options. 6 providers compared, data updated August 2026.
Quick Answer
As of 2026, Ely, Minnesota (MN) has 6 internet providers with plans from 12 Mbps to 2.0 Gbps across fiber, 5G/wireless connections. Top providers include T-Mobile, HughesNet, Starlink. The most affordable plan starts at $30/mo from Spectrum. For top speed, Mediacom offers up to 2.0 Gbps. Ely has 98% fiber coverage across the city.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC), June 2025
Key Findings
6 internet providers available in Ely, MN
Fiber speeds up to 7 Gbps from 4 providers
Cable speeds up to 1.3 Gbps available
98% fiber coverage across the city
86% of sampled city area has broadband infrastructure
Home to 3,924 people, Ely is a small town where internet access depends heavily on the legacy cable or telephone infrastructure. Wired options are typically limited to one provider, making satellite and fixed wireless services important alternatives. BEAD program grants are prioritizing fiber expansion to underserved communities of this size across MN. At a median household income of $63,019, value-oriented broadband plans are popular among Ely households. Mid-range plans offering 200-500 Mbps at $40-$70/month represent the sweet spot for most families in this income tier, balancing speed needs with monthly budget. Single-family homes predominate in Ely, giving most residents direct choice among all available providers without building-level restrictions. Homeowners can also install satellite dishes or fixed wireless receivers, expanding their options beyond wired cable and fiber networks.
6
Providers
98%
Fiber Coverage
7 Gbps
Max Speed
100%
100+ Mbps Coverage
$30/moPrice verified August 2026
Starting Price
Internet in Ely at a Glance
Plans & Pricing in Ely
Showing 10 of 16 real advertised plans in Ely, MN as of 2026
Provider
Plan
Technology
Speed
Price
Contract
Spectrum
Internet Advantage
Cable
100 Mbps
$30/mo
No contract
T-Mobile
Rely Home Internet GEO TI
Fixed
150 Mbps
$45/mo
No contract
HughesNet
Puerto Rico 25Gb
Satellite
25 Mbps
$50/mo
No contract
CenturyLink
Simply Unlimited 500 Mbps
Fiber
527 Mbps
$50/mo
No contract
HughesNet
Imagine Networks Fiber Starter
Fiber
150 Mbps
$55/mo
No contract
T-Mobile
Rely Home Internet
Fixed
150 Mbps
$55/mo
No contract
Viasat
Choice 12 Mbps/60 GB
Satellite
40 Mbps
$60/mo
Contract required
Spectrum
Internet Gig
Cable
1.0 Gbps
$60/mo
No contract
AT&T
Internet 300 (Fiber 300Mbps)
Fixed
398 Mbps
$65/mo
No contract
Mediacom
Internet 300
Cable
300 Mbps
$65/mo
No contract
Top Providers in Ely
FCC hex-level sample at the Ely city center (32 of 37 hexes with service): 7 providers found, fiber up to 7 Gbps, cable up to 1.3 Gbps.
6 providers serve Ely, MN, yet the market's HHI of 5,888 clears the DOJ's 2,500 bar for high concentration — coverage is pooled among the largest networks rather than spread evenly.
T-Mobile leads the Ely, MN highly concentrated broadband market (HHI: 5,888) with 47% coverage, while Frontier Fiber serves 8% of addresses. 3 total providers compete in Ely, MN, giving residents genuine alternatives when comparing plans. Concentration still clears the DOJ's 2,500 HHI threshold here, which blunts structural pricing pressure — households get the most mileage from comparing the leading providers' current quotes directly. Fiber internet is available from Frontier Fiber, with 8% fiber coverage — below the national average of 57%. Fiber delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds — a key advantage for households with multiple remote workers, video conference participants, or content creators who upload large files. Nationally, fiber represents the fastest-growing broadband technology segment, expanding at roughly 8 percentage points of coverage per year. Fixed wireless internet — including 5G home internet services — is available from T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home, reaching 47% of addresses (well above the national fixed wireless average of 32%). Fixed wireless offers a no-installation alternative that is increasingly competitive with cable for everyday internet use, with speeds typically ranging from 50-300 Mbps download. Unlike satellite, fixed wireless delivers lower latency (20-40 ms), making it viable for video conferencing and gaming. Satellite internet (Starlink, Viasat, HughesNet) reaches addresses that wired broadband can't. Starlink's low-Earth-orbit (LEO) technology delivers 20-60 ms latency — a major improvement over geostationary services at 600+ ms — making it a practical choice for rural households without fixed-line options.
Fiber-optic internet availability in Ely, MN stands at 98% — 41 percentage points above the national average of 57%. This exceptional fiber penetration places Ely, MN among the top-tier U.S. markets for FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) deployment. Residents here benefit from the fastest, most reliable internet technology available, with symmetrical upload and download speeds that support remote work, 4K streaming, and large household bandwidth demands without compromise. Cable internet coverage at 1% is 71 points below the national average of 72%, which is notable since cable is typically the most widely available broadband technology. Residents in uncabled areas should look to fixed wireless or satellite as the primary high-speed alternative. Fixed wireless internet — including 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon — covers 100% of addresses, 68 points above the national fixed wireless average of 32%. Higher-than-average wireless availability gives residents an additional competitive alternative that can keep wired ISP pricing in check. This area has exceptional fiber-optic penetration, well ahead of the national trajectory. FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) availability nationwide has grown approximately 8 percentage points annually since 2022, driven by BEAD infrastructure investments and private carrier expansion.
Minnesota received $652 million in federal BEAD funding. The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development is currently in the challenge phase, which means providers and communities can dispute the FCC broadband maps that determine which locations qualify for funding — a critical step before deployment grants are awarded. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) previously provided up to $30/month subsidies for eligible households, though federal funding expired in 2024. Some providers continue offering voluntary low-income discounts.
Detailed Internet Analysis for Ely, MN
Technology Availability
Fiber-optic internet is available from 1 provider (Frontier Fiber), with the highest fiber coverage reaching 8% of addresses. 2 fixed wireless or 5G home internet options are available. satellite internet serves as a backup for addresses outside wired coverage areas. The technology mix in Ely determines the range of speeds and prices residents can access for home internet service.
Pricing Overview
Internet plans in Ely range from $30/month to $129.99/month, with an average of $74/month — $9/month above the national average of $65/month. Fiber plans actually average $52/month — $9 less than cable at $61/month. This is unusual nationally and makes fiber the best value for both speed and price in Ely. The most affordable option is Spectrum starting at $30/month for 100 Mbps speeds. At the top end, HughesNet's 25 Mbps plan costs $129.99/month — best suited for large households or home offices needing maximum bandwidth. No-contract plans average $72/month, making them competitively priced against contract plans at $90/month — flexibility without a price penalty. Residents of Minnesota should compare at least 2-3 providers before committing, as pricing varies significantly by plan tier and technology type.
Market Competition
By the DOJ's merger-review yardstick, Ely is a highly concentrated broadband market: its HHI of 5,888 sits above the 2,500 threshold. Behind that figure sits a 39-point spread between T-Mobile, at 47% of addresses, and the next-widest network, Frontier Fiber, at 8%. Only T-Mobile clears 20% address reach, which leaves fixed wireless or satellite service as the main competitive check for most homes.
Speed Options
Internet speeds in Ely range from 12 Mbps to 2 Gbps. The fastest available plan is Mediacom's 2 Gbps cable service at $90/month. Cable download speeds in Ely reach 2 Gbps, exceeding the fastest fiber option at 527 Mbps. However, fiber still offers superior upload speeds (symmetrical vs cable's 10-35 Mbps upload cap), which matters for video conferencing and cloud backups. With 2 Gbps service, households can support 80+ simultaneous 4K streams, lag-free competitive gaming, and large file transfers without congestion. For most households, 398 Mbps plans from AT&T offer the best balance of speed and cost for everyday use. Note that some plans in Ely include data caps — households that stream heavily should verify whether their chosen plan includes unlimited data or charges overage fees.
Our Recommendation
For most Ely residents, we recommend starting with fiber internet if available at your address — CenturyLink's 527 Mbps plan at $50/month offers the best combination of speed and value. For budget-conscious households, Spectrum's 100 Mbps plan at $30/month delivers essential connectivity at a low monthly cost. For remote workers who rely on video conferencing and cloud file sharing, CenturyLink's fiber plan provides symmetrical 531 Mbps upload speeds — critical for smooth Zoom calls and fast uploads. Gamers should consider Mediacom's 2 Gbps plan — the fastest download speeds help with large game downloads and updates. For households of 4+ people with multiple connected devices, Mediacom's 2 Gbps plan at $90/month provides enough bandwidth for simultaneous streaming, gaming, and video calls. Heavy streaming households should choose Mediacom's unlimited data plan to avoid overage charges — especially important for families streaming 4K content across multiple TVs. Always verify availability at your exact address, as coverage can vary block by block in Ely.
Local Infrastructure
The Ely area is served through ZIP code 55731 and surrounding codes, which define the local broadband service boundaries for most internet providers in MN. With 6 providers serving the area, Ely has 15% more broadband options than the national average of 5.2 providers per market. The population-to-provider ratio in Ely is approximately 654 residents per ISP, which suggests a competitive market where providers must actively vie for subscribers. Classified as a rural community with 3,924 residents, Ely's broadband infrastructure reflects the investment patterns typical of areas where fixed wireless and satellite play a larger role.
ZIP & Service Area Context
ZIP code 55731 is the anchor for internet availability reporting in Ely. It sits within the 557-prefix postal region, which the FCC uses to aggregate provider filings into the public Broadband Data Collection maps. If your specific address falls on the boundary between 55731 and an adjacent ZIP, the set of providers that will actually serve you can differ from the snapshot shown for Ely as a whole — a direct ZIP or address check is always the most reliable way to confirm what's currently installable at your home.
Why Ely Internet is Different
Market Concentration
Ely's internet market has an HHI of 5,888, indicating high concentration. The DOJ considers markets above 2,500 HHI to be highly concentrated. With fewer competitive options, Ely residents may face higher prices and less incentive for providers to upgrade infrastructure compared to more competitive markets.
BEAD Funding
MN is allocated $652 million in federal BEAD broadband funding (currently in the challenge phase). This investment will expand high-speed internet access to underserved areas across the state, potentially improving infrastructure and introducing new provider options for Ely residents over the next 2-4 years.
Fiber Adoption
Ely's fiber adoption rate is 98%, which is 41 percentage points above the 57% national average. This above-average fiber penetration typically correlates with lower average internet costs, faster available speeds, and more symmetrical upload/download performance for remote work and video conferencing.
Ely, Minnesota, is a community of about 3,924 people. The local internet market is highly competitive with 11 providers offering broadband service. The provider with the widest coverage in Ely is HughesNet, reaching an estimated 100.0% of the area via Satellite.
Internet Providers in Ely, Minnesota — Full Comparison
The table below lists every internet provider with verified coverage in the Ely CBSA market area. Coverage percentages come from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings and represent the share of locations each provider can serve.
The Ely, MN broadband market is concentrated with one or two dominant carriers. With 11 total providers, residents have a highly competitive selection of internet service options. Competition among providers typically leads to better pricing, higher speed tiers, and improved customer service.
Technology Breakdown
Fiber: 4 providers (CenturyLink, AT&T Internet, Frontier Fiber) offering symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps
Cable: 2 providers (Spectrum, Mediacom) with download speeds up to 1.2 Gbps
With an estimated population of 3,924 and approximately 1,570 households, Ely represents a meaningful broadband market in Minnesota. The relatively high number of providers (11) serving this market suggests strong infrastructure investment and competitive pricing pressure that benefits consumers.
Choosing the Right Plan in Ely
For the fastest speeds and best long-term value, fiber internet from CenturyLink is the top choice in Ely. Fiber plans offer symmetrical upload and download speeds with lower latency than cable. For budget-conscious households, cable internet from Spectrum provides strong download performance at typically lower introductory pricing. Enter your ZIP code above to compare specific plans and promotions available at your address.
Fiber Internet in Ely
Fiber internet is available in Ely from CenturyLink, AT&T Internet, Frontier Fiber and 1 more. Fiber delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds, making it ideal for remote work, video conferencing, and gaming. Nationally, fiber reaches approximately 57% of addresses.
Broadband Expansion Programs
Minnesota has been allocated $652 million through the federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) program. This funding is expected to expand broadband infrastructure across underserved areas of Minnesota, potentially improving options for Ely residents over the next 3–5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best internet providers in Ely, MN?
The top internet providers in Ely, MN are HughesNet, Viasat, Starlink, CenturyLink, T-Mobile and 6 additional ISPs. For the fastest speeds, fiber providers like CenturyLink offer the best performance. Enter your ZIP code to confirm availability at your specific address.
What is the fastest internet available in Ely?
The fastest internet in Ely comes from fiber providers: CenturyLink, AT&T Internet, Frontier Fiber offer fiber speeds up to 1–5 Gbps with symmetrical upload and download performance. Enter your ZIP code to confirm fiber availability at your address.
How much does internet cost in Ely, Minnesota?
Internet plans in Ely, Minnesota typically start around $25–35/month for entry-level service. Fiber plans begin at $50–60/month, Cable plans range from $30–55/month, and fixed wireless plans cost around $35–55/month. Introductory rates often last 12–24 months before increasing. Compare current promotional pricing from all local providers using your ZIP code above.
Is fiber internet available in Ely?
Yes, fiber internet is available in Ely from CenturyLink, AT&T Internet, Frontier Fiber and 1 more providers. Fiber delivers the fastest, most reliable internet with symmetrical speeds. Enter your ZIP code to verify fiber availability at your specific address.
Are there affordable internet options in Ely, MN?
Several providers in Ely, MN offer low-income internet plans. The FCC Lifeline program provides eligible households with a monthly discount on phone or internet service. Major ISPs including Xfinity (Internet Essentials), Spectrum (Internet Assist), and AT&T (Access) offer qualifying plans from $10–30/month. Note: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) expired in June 2024, but some providers continue voluntary low-income discount programs. Enter your ZIP code to see participating providers at your address.
How We Rank Providers
Our rankings use verified FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, analyzing coverage area, available technologies, speed tiers, and competitive positioning. We do not accept payment for ranking placement. For a detailed explanation of our methodology, visit our methodology page.
Provider availability and coverage data for Ely, MN is sourced from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) as of December 2024. The FCC requires all internet service providers to report coverage at the location level twice per year. We cross-reference these filings with plan and pricing data collected directly from provider websites.
Our analysis methodology, data sources, and scoring criteria are documented on our methodology page. Coverage percentages represent the share of residential locations in the CBSA where each provider has reported service availability to the FCC. Actual availability may vary by specific address.
Pricing shown reflects publicly advertised rates as of 2026 and may not include taxes, equipment fees, or promotional expiration details. We recommend verifying current pricing directly with the provider. Data verified as of 2026.
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6 internet providers serve Ely, Minnesota, including T-Mobile, Starlink, HughesNet, Viasat and more. Provider availability varies by address — enter your ZIP code to see which ISPs cover your location and compare their current plans and pricing.
How fast is the internet in Ely compared to the national average?
Ely is ahead of the national average with fiber internet available from Frontier Fiber. The national median fixed broadband download speed is approximately 200 Mbps. Fiber plans here offer 300 Mbps to 5 Gbps, well above that benchmark. Enter your ZIP code to compare all available plans.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Ely?
The cheapest internet plans in Ely typically start around $25-35/month for basic DSL or fixed wireless service with speeds of 25-100 Mbps. Some providers offer low-income programs starting under $25/month. Fiber plans start around $50/month and offer significantly better performance per dollar than budget cable or DSL tiers. Enter your ZIP code to compare all current promotions and find the lowest available rate at your address.
Is fiber internet available in Ely?
Yes, fiber internet is available in Ely from Frontier Fiber. Fiber delivers the fastest, most reliable internet with symmetrical speeds. Enter your ZIP code to verify fiber availability at your specific address.
Is satellite internet a good option in Ely?
Satellite internet (Starlink, HughesNet) is typically a last-resort option for Ely residents who cannot get wired or fixed wireless service at their address. Starlink's low-Earth-orbit satellite delivers speeds of 25-220 Mbps with latency of 20-60 ms — a significant improvement over older geostationary satellite services. However, with 6 wired and wireless providers serving Ely, most residents will find faster and more affordable options through cable, fiber, or fixed wireless. Enter your ZIP code to check all available providers at your address.
Check Your Exact Address
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Data for internet providers, plans, and coverage in Ely, Minnesota is compiled from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, provider-published broadband labels, and U.S. Census Bureau demographic data. Population and median household income figures are from the American Community Survey. Pricing, speeds, and availability are verified against provider broadband nutrition labels and may vary by location. For a detailed explanation of our data collection and scoring process, see our methodology page.
How We Score Providers
Our analysts rate every provider on a composite 1–5 scale using five weighted criteria, applied consistently across all reviews and comparisons:
Price (30%) — advertised plan pricing verified monthly against each provider's broadband nutrition labels.
Speed (25%) — advertised tiers cross-checked with third-party real-world speed test data.
Last verified: March 2026. InternetProviders.ai is an independent resource. We may earn commissions from partner links — this does not affect our editorial recommendations. See our methodology for details.
